The stress of expectations

We sometimes lose perspective in the pursuit of our best. Consider the multi-millionaire stressed about money while countless people are homeless and searching for their next meal. Or the basketball player disappointed that he can no longer dunk, even though he can still run, shoot, and compete. In the 1980s film Wall Street, Bud Fox famously asked Gordon Gekko, "How much is enough? How many yachts can you water ski behind?" It's a question worth sitting with.
After a while, we grow numb to the things we should appreciate most — our health, having enough to eat, being loved by friends and family. I like to compare it to looking at a freshly painted wall. It may be nearly perfect, but if there's one small spot or blemish, your eye is drawn straight to it. Ninety-nine percent of it is flawless, yet that single imperfection is all you can focus on.
But life is full of imperfection — and that's precisely what makes it beautiful and interesting. The key is learning to control your perspective. By all means, aim higher, but not to the point where you're unhappy more often than you're satisfied. Learn to balance your appreciation for what you have with your desire for more. And let go of the things you simply cannot control.